Water-wheel.



G. O. LEAR.

WATER WHEEL.

APPLICATION HLED DECJQ, 1917 1 98,480 Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

M mw WITNESSES jassembly hereinafter described in the accompanying GUY o. LEAR, or KUNA, IDAHO.

WATER-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 41, 19119.

Application filed December 19, 1917. Serial No. 207,947.

To all whom it may concern:

"Be it known that I, GUY O. LEAR, citizen ofthe United States, residing at Kuna, in the county of Ada and State of Idaho,-have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVater-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a water wheel'and has for its principal object theproduction of a device which is adapted to force water to various points desired thus facilitating the elevating of the water or the carrying of the water to various places, thus being particularly adapted for irrigating purposes.

Another object of this invention is the production of a pumping structure which receives water from a stream the device also being provided with a wheel to be operated by the force of the current, thus, allowing the device to operate without cost after the initial installation."

Another objectof this invention is the production of a pumping structure which has a housing connected at one end to a tubular chamber, this chamber being provided with a check-valve so as to permit water to be passed from the housing into the tubular chamber and thus permit the spiral memberwithin the tubular chamber to force the water therefrom into a suitable conveying means.

Another object of this invention is the production of a pumping structure which has the power wheel journaled upon the housing, thus permitting theshaft of the spiral member 'to receive rotary motion from suit-able gears, whereby as the power wheel rotates the spiral will also be rotated for'forcing water from the tubular chamber, it being, of course, obvious that a pres sure of the water from the stream and within the housing will be suflicient to pass into the tubular chamber and supply the tubular chamber with the necessary water for insuring proper operation ofthe, spiral member.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists of certain novel combina tion, construction, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. I 7

One practical form of construction and of the present invention will be drawings, in which v Figure l is a longitudinal section through the housing and tubular chamber, the power wheel, spiral member and connecting elements being illustrated in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of ig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, it will be seen that the device is used in general in connection with a stream, indicated in general at 1, and adja cent the usual bank 2.

The housing 3 may be of any desired shape and is provided with a closed inner end 4 having a flange 5. This housing 3 is provided with an open front end, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 2. This housing is carried preferably by the bank 2 at a point below the water line of the stream 1, thus causing the housing to be normally filled with water from the stream.

The'tubular chamber 6 is provided with a closed end 7 projecting into the housing 3, the annular flange 5 of the closed end A of the housing 3 bearing upon this tubular chamber, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. In order to permit water to pass from the housing 3 into the tubular chamber 6, the chant ber is provided in its'closed end 7 with a plurality of check valves 8. These check valves 8 are of any suitable construction, as it is only desired to provide some suitable form which will permit the water to pass from the housing into the tubular member, although preventing the water from repassing from the tubular member into the housing, in the event the water line of the stream should for some reason fall below the center of the housing. The conduit 9 leads from the opened end of the tubular chamber 6, as indicated in Fig. 1 and may extend to wherever it is desired to convey the water.

The spiral member shaft 10 is journaled in the closed end 7 of the tubular member 6 and has one end journaled in the brackets 11 fixedly secured in the outer end portion of the tubular member 6. The spiral member 12 is secured in any suitable manner to the shaft 10 and is carried within the tubular member 6. It is therefore obvious that as rotary motion is imparted by the shaft 10 to the spiral member 12, this spiral member will be.:.driven at zi -sufficient rateiofspeeda,

supported. The'reduced pinion 16 is fixed or keyed in any suitable manner upon the adjacent the bearing 15 shaft 10 at a point for purposes to be hereinafter set forth.

A bracket arm an L shaped construction has its horizontal portion fixed in any suitable man-nerto the lower portion of the housing3i The vertical portion of' the'" L shaped arm 17 is provided with a bearing passes through the bearing 20', as shownin Fig-p1. This driving shaft '21has its inner end journaled in the'bearing member 22"carried upon'thebracket 13 at a point intermediatethe lowerend of this bracket and An enlarged gear 23 is fixedthe bearing 15. or keyed' iirany suitable manner upon" the driving shaft 21 at a point adjacent the innew end hereof and thisgear' 23isat times in meshing engagement with thereduced pinion 16.- Thus it is obvious that as rotary motion is imparted to the driving shaft=21itwi1l in turn be imparted through the gear 28 andpinion 16" to the shaftlO; It is of course obvious that owing to the' relative sizeof the gearthe speed of the rotating' driving shaft 21.

The driving-wheel comprises a base 24 having webs 25" afliized thereon in any suitable manner; It is employed in connection with the present device and tlieione herem shown is only illustrated to'disclose the driving means for the pumping structure: This driving wheel is carriediat' a considerable" distance from thehousing 3 to receive the force of impact of the water caused by the current of the stream. This force will" cause the driving wheel to" rotate at a comparatively rapid, speed, or 'inaccordancewithf the movementof thestream,and as thedrivingwheel is positioned belowahe water line, it is obvious it"willcontinually rotate as long as'it'is' submerged and in this way. will considerably in.-

cre'asefithe' capacity of the pumping structure.

When this 'device'is' in operation; the" conduit isconducted to a suitable location while the housing and 2 driving wheel are mounted having angula'rly" and also interme- 17 which is preferably of EZOa-nd the driving shaft 21' all 23, when taking into consideration the size of the pinion 16, the speed ofthe shaft 10 will be increased over of course obvious-that any formof a driving Wheel desired' m'ay bein the manner liereinbefores specified.v As the-force of the current of the stream will cause the drive Wheel to rotate, it is obvious the driving shaft 21 will also be rotated. ThGzIOt-EttlOll of this driving shaft will impart the rotary movement to the gear 23 and the movement of the gear will impart motion to the pinion 16 at an increased rateof speed. As theipinion is keyed upon the shaft 10, it is obvious the shaft 10 will be rapidly ro member to be rotated with considerable speed; This'movement of the splral member will cause the water to be moved therefromr and driven into the" conduit. Thepressure 1 of the water in the streanr ancl':housing-:wi'll '1 of course force the water: through theichecka valves 8 into the tubular member to supply the tubular for insuring the proper supply ofwater for causing *thespiral" member to pump an even or uniform flow of water' therefrom 1n-toi' the conduit;

As above specified; thisdevice aften being 1 installed will operate without expenseand owing to the fact that it is submerged it will continuously operate" and for this reason -is capable of elevating waterto a'considerable height enforcing the same for a considerable distance ata slightfinclii'ie or on a level and for this reason it is well adapted for inex pensive irrigating purposes: It'is of course obvious that it may purposes than irrigation; in connectionwith irrigation has been 'mentioned as merely disclosing-the utility'- of the pumping structure- As only-one form of the present invention has been herein illustrated; it" is*obvious that minor changes in detail construction of the invention may be made, as long-= as these changes 'do not exceed the scope of' theE invention as claimed}? 7 What is claimedis:. 1. In a device -of the class. described, the

combinationofia housing, a tubular 'member pro ecting into SZhld" liousinggaasp1ral mem ber' carried w1th1n sa1dtubular member; said" housing "having an open end," saidi-housing being adaptedto' be'-carriedbelow the water line of a stream, whereby thewaterwillpass into. sa d housmg and' then 111130 saidtubular member," and means carrledby' said housing for imparting rotary motion tosaid spiral member; thus causing the water =with in said tubular member to be forcedtllere from. I Y

2.: Ida deviceof the class describedy tlie combination ofa*housing,- said housing hav ing a closed inner' end and an open 1 outer end, a tubular member projecting intosaidhousing throughsaid closed inner endrclieck valves carried' b'y said tubularinember; said= housing being adapted tof=be carried below the water line of a stream; thus allowinga member with a continuous -flow be employed for other since its utility tated and will in-. this wwayrcause the'rspirali Water pressure within the housing for causing the water to pass through said valves into said tubular member, said valves preventing the passing of water from said tubular member back into said housing, a spiral member carried Within said tubular member, and means carried by said housing for imparting rotary motion to said spiral member, thus causing the spiral member to force water from said tubular member.

3. In a device of the class described, the

V combination of a tubular member, said tubular member having a closed end, check valves carried by the closed end of said tubular member, a housing having a closed end and an open end, said tubular member projecting through the closed end of said housing and into the interior thereof, said housing being adapted to be carried below the water line of a stream for maintaining a water pressure within said housing, thus causing the water to pass through said valves into said tubular member, although said valves will prevent the repassing of the water from said tubular member back into said housing, pump means carried within said tubular member, and driving means carried by said housing, for operating said pump means and thus force water from said tubular member.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a housing, an L shaped bracket arm fixed to said housing and projecting for a considerable distance therebeyond, a driving shaft journaled upon said bracket arm, a driving wheel connected to said shaft, said driving wheel being adapted to be driven by Water power, a tubular member connected to said housing, a pumping means arranged within said tubular member and means connecting" said pumping means to said driving shaft, thus causing said driving shaft to operate said pumping means for forcin water from said tubular member.

5. Iii a device of the class described, the combination of a housing, a tubular member projecting into said housing, check valves carried by said tubular member, a shaft journaled upon said housing and tubular Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by

housing, a driving shaft journaled upon said bracket arm, a driving wheel connected to said shaft, a gear fixed upon said driving shaft, a pinion fixed upon said first mentioned shaft and meshing with said gear, whereby as said driving wheel rotates said driving shaft rotary motion will be imparted to said gear and then by said pinion to said first mentioned shaft, thus allowing said first mentioned shaft to operate said spiral member for forcing water from said tubular member.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a housing having a closed end and an open end, a bracket carried within the open end of said housing, a tubular member projecting through the closed end of said housing, check valves carried by said tubular member, a bracket carried by said tubular member, a shaft projecting through said tubular member and having its ends journaled upon said brackets, a pumping means connected to said shaft, an L s aped bracket arm mounted upon said housing, a driving shaft journaled upon said bracket arm and said first mentioned bracket, a gear fixed upon said driving shaft, a pinion fixed upon said first mentioned shaft and meshing with said gear, and a driving wheel fixed upon said driving shaft, whereby the device may be submerged in a stream to allow water to pass through said housing and valves into said tubular member, and said driving wheel being adapted to be rotated by the movement of the stream, thus causing rotary motion to be imparted to said driving shaft and gear to said pinion and first mentioned shaft, thus causing said first mentioned shaft to operate said pumping means for forcing water from said tubular member.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of a witness.

GUY O. LEAR.

Witness:

0. E. KALB.

addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

